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Taking a “squeaking wheel” approach to road conditions is not an appropriate management tool, members of a county road committee told commissioners Monday.

The committee of township officials, put together in June to discuss road maintenance and come back to commissioners with recommendations, pointed out numerous weaknesses in the county’s handling of road maintenance. The committee was originally formed on the premise that townships should take responsibility for road maintenance, but that’s not the recommendation they made Monday.

“The ‘squeaking wheel syndrome’ does not allow for all the citizens of Marion County to be heard, nor is it an appropriate management tool,” said committee member Linda Peters.

Peters said that approach causes frustration to get out of control.

“We recently saw that at the Marion County Lake, where 500 people showed up to complain,” Peters said.

One of the issues facing the county is that while its number of road miles has not shrunk, the number of employees to maintain and improve roads has shrunk. Additional blades are needed, Peters said.

One committee member said they recognize that equipment costs money and county residents “howl” when the mill levy goes up.

Another committee member said the county has not lived up to its responsibility to cities.

Commission chairman Randy Dallke disagreed, saying the county has given help when cities have requested it.

The county has a plan, but few know what the plan is and where it is happening, Peters said.

Peters said the county needs better communication on road issues as well as better road maintenance. She recommended someone be assigned to meet with townships and trustees, then assist townships to develop short-term and long-range plans.

“We believe this would begin to start the healing process with the frustration of many of the concerns,” Peters said.